“I need a minimum of three
strikers,” said Rodgers. “Once the window shuts, that is it until
January. I have got Luis Suarez, Fabio Borini and Andy Carroll.

“I would need to be a nutcase to even consider at this moment to let Andy Carroll go unless there are other solutions for that.

“Andy has been working well. He knows the situation, like the rest of the group do and we will take it from there.”

When asked about a possible loan deal, Rodgers said: “Absolutely no chance – and certainly not to Newcastle.

“Newcastle got £35m for this player last year. To even consider wanting to take him on loan is a liberty, really.

“The
club is working very hard behind the scenes to manage that process to
allow us to get some players in but, in terms of depth, it’s nowhere
near where I would want it to be. There is still a wee bit of time left
and hopefully, come the end of August, we will be ready to go on with
the group that we want.”

Carroll, who has scored just 11 league and cup
goals since his record-breaking move to Anfield, has suffered a minor
injury in training this week, but Rodgers is convinced he will start
against Hearts, in the first leg of their Europa League play-off, with
the winners earning a place in the group stages.

Teenage
striker Raheem Sterling could also be handed his first start for
Liverpool, with Suarez and skipper Steven Gerrard rested.